Jets Gameday: Jets (1-1) at Miami Dolphins (1-1)

Nick Mangold and Matt Slauson will have their work cut out for them against the Dolphins' interior linemen today.Ed Mulholland/US Presswire

Today, 1 p.m.

Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.

TV: CBS, Ch. 2. Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM

3 MATCHUPS TO WATCH

1. Jets interior offensive line vs. Dolphins defensive tackles

Nick Mangold, Brandon Moore, Matt Slauson, meet Randy Starks and Paul Soliai, Miami’s two mammoth inside linemen. Starks and Soliai were a handful for the Raiders last weekend and wreaked havoc on their running game — limiting Darren McFadden and Co. to just 23 yards on 14 carries. The Jets did an admirable job running the ball against the Steelers — 4.1 yards per carry — but this presents its own issues. With Starks (6-3, 305 pounds) and Soliai (6-4, 345) pushing back the line of scrimmage, and the Dolphins consistently setting the edge as well, running the ball today will be difficult against a team allowing a league-low 2.2 yards per carry.

Bush is now a top threat at running back. Last weekend, he busted out touchdown runs of 23 and 65 yards (he finished with 172 yards rushing). That was a case of faulty tackling on the first run and good blocking on the second. For the Jets to stop Bush today, the defense must do a good job of winning the line of scrimmage, but Harris and Scott are the keys especially. Bush is shifty and speedy and difficult to corral. The Jets’ two inside linebackers will have to make sure he doesn’t break any big runs.

3. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie vs. wide receiver Davone Bess

With Darrelle Revis back and covering QB Ryan Tannehill’s favorite target, Brian Hartline, it would be fair to assume the other receivers will be a heavy part of the game. Against the Raiders, Tannehill threw to Hartline 40 percent of the time (nine receptions for 111 yards). If Revis shuts down Hartline, receiver Davone Bess will have to be a target for Tannehill against the athletic Cromartie. Or the the Dolphins be forced to try to win the game without their wide receivers being involved? In that case, tight end Anthony Fasano and Bush will be heavily involved.

Quinton CoplesMartin Griff/The Times of Trenton

4 DOWNS … DE Quinton Coples

1. After two games, how do you feel you are adjusting to the NFL?

I think I’m doing good. When I get in I’m being productive. I think it’s a self-progress for me being the player I want to be and the team wants me to be.

2. Is the hardest change from college to the NFL the speed of the game?

I don’t think it has anything to do with the speed, it’s more technical things — like technique-wise and recognizing formations and more knowledge of everything. That’s what it’s all about in the NFL. I don’t think it’s speed. Speed is speed. Athleticism, you can make plays off that. As far as knowing how to react to certain blocks and certain formations, and what is the offense going to do and how are they going to block and how are they going to run this play out of this formation, that’s more the biggest things you have to grasp to be great in this league.

3. Last week defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said you were inconsistent, do you think that’s fair?

I don’t want to get into that. If that’s how he feels, that’s how he feels. All I can do is keep working and try to get better each and every day.

4. The defensive players have said that Miami has a fast-paced offense. Is it different than what you’ve seen from Buffalo and Pittsburgh?

I think their offense is a lot faster than both of those teams. One of the things that we’ve been focusing on is to make sure that we can play a fast-paced offense and also deal with the conditions, being that’s it’s going to be hot down there.

THE NUMBER

5.6

Reggie Bush’s yards-per-carry average since Week 6 of last season. That week he ran for 71 yards on 10 carries against the Jets. That was the turning point in which Bush became a marquee running back. Since then, he has run for 1,137 yards in just 13 games, hitting the century mark six times. Bush is no longer the tentative speed demon he was in New Orleans, where he averaged 4 yards per carry and gained 2,090 rushing yards in 60 games. "He’s a special player," Rex Ryan said.

DID YOU KNOW

The Jets are just 13-12 on the road under Rex Ryan. Though they advanced to two AFC Championship games by being road warriors, they’ve struggled in the regular season. They are 1-2 in Miami under Ryan. Mark Sanchez is also a different player home and away. Playing in East Rutherford, he has a 33-to-27 TD to interception ratio. On the road, it’s 26-to-25. However, he has taken 55 sacks at home and been taken down 40 times on the road. In three games in Miami, Sanchez has completed 57.1 percent of his passes, throwing six TDs and three picks.